Isaiah 46

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 46:7

They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him ,.... That is, the idol; men carry him upon their shoulders in procession, and expose him to the view and veneration of the people, just as the host is carried in procession by the Papists; or the idol being made, the workman or his men lift it up, for it cannot lift up itself, and take it upon their shoulders, and carry it home to the proprietor: and set him in his place ; in his house, if an household god: or in the temple, church, or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 46:8

Remember this ,.... Or "these things", as the Syriac version, concerning the matter of which, and the manner in which idols are made; their impotency to move themselves, and their inability to help their votaries, and the difference between them and the true God: and show yourselves men ; and not brutes, as the makers and worshippers of images are, or show themselves as if they were; who unmanly themselves, and act contrary to the natural reason of mankind: or "be ye strong" F17 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 46:9

Remember the former things of old ,.... The things that were from the beginning, or the ancient things done by the Lord, whether as the effects of power, wisdom, and goodness, or in wrath, or in mercy; such as the creation of the heavens, and the earth, and all things in them; the destruction of the old world, and of Sodom and Gomorrah; the bringing of Israel out of Egypt through the Red sea and wilderness, to Canaan's land, and all the wondrous things then done for them; which are so many... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 46:10

Declaring the end from the beginning ,.... The end of the Jewish state, both as a church, and a commonwealth, from the first settlement of it in the times of Moses, and by him, Deuteronomy 32:29 . The end of the world, and all things in it, as early as the times of Enoch, the seventh from Adam, Judges 1:14 . The end and issue of every event, at least of many very remarkable and momentous ones, before they came to pass; and particularly things relating to Christ, the beginning and end;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 46:11

Calling a ravenous bird from the east ,.... Or "a flying fowl", or "swift winged bird" F21 עיט "avem, a velocitate", Munster; so Vatablus; ab עוט "in volando celeriter et cum impetu", Forerius; so Ben Melech says, Cyrus is surnamed a fowl, because of his great swiftness and haste to come to Babylon; though he observes that some say, that a ravenous fowl is called עיט ; the singular may be put for the plural; so Cocceius renders it, "volucres", birds, and may design the whole army... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 46:12

Hearken unto me, ye stout hearted ,.... This is not an address to the Chaldeans, as Kimchi and others think, who were merciless and cruel to the Jews, and far from doing that which was right unto them, but oppressed them, and would not let them go; but to the Jews themselves, at least to the wicked and profligate among them, who were always a stouthearted, stiffnecked, and a rebellious people; and even those who made more presences to religion were only self-righteous, and were far from true... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 46:13

I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off ,.... Meaning either the faithfulness of God, in fulfilling his promises; or the justice of God displayed, in redemption by Christ; or Christ himself, God's righteous One, and the Lord our righteousness; or rather the righteousness of Christ itself, which Jehovah the Father may call his, because he sent his Son to work it out, approved of it, accepted it, and imputes it to his people, and justifies them by it; and which was near to be... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 46

The idols of Babylon represented as so far from being able to bear the burden of their votaries, that they themselves are borne by beasts of burden into captivity, Isaiah 46:1 , Isaiah 46:2 . This beautifully contrasted with the tender care of God, in bearing his people from first to last in his arms, and delivering them from their distress, Isaiah 46:3 , Isaiah 46:4 . The prophet, then, with his usual force and elegance, goes on to show the folly of idolatry, and the utter inability... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 46:1

Their carriages were heavy loaden "Their burdens are heavy" - For נשאתיכם nesuotheychem , your burdens, the Septuagint had in their copy נשאתיהם nesuotheyhem , their burdens. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 46:2

They could not deliver the burden "They could not deliver their own charge" - That is, their worshippers, who ought to have been borne by them. See the two next verses. The Chaldee and Syriac Versions render it in effect to the same purpose, those that bear them, meaning their worshippers; but how they can render משא massa in an active sense, I do not understand. For לא lo , not, ולא velo , and they could not, is the reading of twenty-four of Kennicott's, sixteen of De Rossi's,... read more

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